Shop art print and framed art Saturn Devouring one of his Sons by Francisco de Goya

Saturn Devouring One of His Sons, also known as Saturn Devouring His Child or simply Saturn (in Spanish : " Saturno devorando a un hijo "), is one of Francisco de Goya's Black Paintings, painted between 1819 and 1823 directly on the walls of his house called the Quinta del Sordo (" Country House of the Deaf ") on the outskirts of Madrid. The painting was transferred to canvas after Goya's death and has since been exhibited at the Prado Museum in Madrid.

Origin of the myth of Saturn devouring his children

This work is considered to be one of the most famous and intriguing by the Spanish painter. To better understand this work, we need to look back at the legend behind it. Saturn, also called Cronos in Greek mythology, was the god of time and a titan. He was married to Rhea, with whom he had several children. According to prophecy, one of his sons was to overthrow him and take his place as ruler. To prevent this, Saturn decided to devour each of his newborns as soon as they were born.

The artistic representation of the myth throughout history

Goya's work surprises with its violence, its dark and enigmatic character. The painter depicts Saturn as an almost spectral figure, whose face expresses madness and despair. The scene takes place in a bare setting, where only the Titan and his victim are present.

The theme of Saturn devouring one of his sons has interested several artists throughout history, particularly those of the Renaissance. Among them was Peter Paul Rubens, who produced a version of this subject around 1636.

The creative context of Goya's work

It seems that Francisco Goya produced this painting during a difficult period in his life, marked by illness and solitude. It was during this period that he also produced other major works such as "La Maja nue" or "La Maja habillée".

The period of the "black paintings"

"Saturn devouring one of his sons" is part of a series of 14 paintings produced by Goya between 1819 and 1823, known as the Black Paintings. These works are characterised by their sombre tone, macabre theme and highly expressionist style for the period.

An allegory of the political situation in Spain?

Some art critics consider that "Saturn devouring one of his sons" is actually a metaphor for the political situation in Spain at the beginning of the 19th century. The country was going through a period of unrest and repression, particularly during the reign of Ferdinand VII. Goya could thus have depicted Saturn as a tyrannical figure, literally devouring his own people.

Modern interpretations of the work

Still today, Saturn devouring one of his sons continues to fascinate art historians and the general public. Several interpretations have been proposed to explain the significance of this mysterious work:

• The allegory of time: Since Saturn is the god of time, this scene can be seen as a representation of the fact that time consumes all living beings, sometimes at the very dawn of their existence.
• The fear of fatherhood: Goya was the father of several children, some of whom died in infancy. The painting could thus express the fear of seeing his children disappear before him.
• The criticism of authority: as mentioned above, this work can be seen as a denunciation of the oppressive and destructive power of political or religious authorities.

This artwork is a painting from the classical period. It belongs to the romanticism style.

« Saturn Devouring one of his Sons » is kept at Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain.

Find the full description of Saturn Devouring one of his Sons by Francisco de Goya on Wikipedia.